I usually get a new passport holder after 1 or 2 years of travelling and below is a photo of my latest passport holder which i have bought it recently. It's an ultra cute passport holder with “Bon Voyage” theme. The fun intricate design on the cover of this passport holder is very delicate. The inside of the passport case is a cheerful pastel checked pattern. This is one type of passport cover that will suit my every mood while travelling! I will definitely travel in classiness with this new fabulous passport holder. I will protect my passport during my journeys and boost-up my style while traveling by carrying this superb nice passport. Please continue to stay tune to my next travel photography trip photos to be posted in a couple of weeks' time! :-)
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Walking in the garden sounds like something meant only for those who happen to raise vegetables for a living! Not so, a walk through any garden that is organized, filled with fragrances that permeate our being will calm the ravaged soul. Walking in a garden will bring peace to any who are searching for refreshed life. Sometimes the pleasure we take in a garden isn’t just in the way it looks but in the way it makes us feel. Happy Weekend to Everyone!
It's another lovely sunset to support motivation and inspirations. One of the most colorful times of the day is when the sun is going down to rest behind the horizon. It’s an ideal time to get out the camera and get to work. It’s also one of the most challenging times to capture the light just the way you want. As the sun falls closer to the horizon you can count on dramatic changes in lighting from minute to minute. Hope these intriguing sunset images will get your day going! Wish a Happy Weekend to all of you!! :-)
Photo Documentary on Poor and Needy Elderly Folks staying at old HDB one-room flats in Singapore18/4/2012 I am aware about the countless homeless elderly people in Singapore, either abandoned by their own children or having no children as they had worked past their prime to settle down. They have no one to support them at their old age and their hard-earned savings dwindled from the increasing cost of living. The situation is getting more common than anyone of us would like to admit but one quiet morning upon seeing an old man sleeping overnight at a bus stop just got me into some deep thinking. As our society progresses while we grow older each day, will we become unable to catch up with the fast progresses even though we are able to do so now, will we be eventually left behind to our own devices and to be forgotten by everyone else? Will our savings hold out?
Today as the standard of living is rising rapidly, more and more people are finding it tougher to make ends meet these days and the current high-cost of property / living situation does trigger a sense of fear and hopelessness about the future for some people. Singapore was not built into a modern community within a single day as well are all aware of that. What we are seeing today is the hardship and labour of our elders after so many decades. Singaporeans today are reaping the bountiful fruits of their labour and they should not repay them with disregard and disrespect. We simply cannot take them for granted. However, some people still choose to abandon or neglect them just because they are unable to contribute to the society much. There are some helpess elders out there who still live below the poverty line and do ‘lowly’ jobs just to make ends meet. I made some recent photography trips down to some of the remaining old HDB one-room rental flats at Ang Mo Kio and Bukit Merah View in Singapore where most of these units are being leased out to elderly homeless people. While these old one-room HDB flats in the past used to house mainly low-income families, most of them are now occupied by lonely old people who are either single, lost their spouse or whose children had moved out after marriage. Being old and some with chronic illness, obviously keeping the house clean and spunky would be the least important concern for these poor folks. So it is not surprising to pass by some units that have a musky smell. Another Happy Weekend!! Dropped by at a major bookstore in the afternoon and picked up one of the latest leading monthly issue of the Digital Camera Magazine in stores. Two months ago (February), I submitted one of my photos taken in Hong Kong last year for the "Your Mission - Shoot An Amazing City" category released then and it's now being published in the latest April 2012 Issue of Digital Camera Magazine!
Here goes the Part 9 as well as the last blog post of my recent fulfilling trip to Hong Kong - Avenue of Stars 星光大道 located near Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station 尖沙咀站.
I must say that this recent whole Hong Kong trip was a real awesome one. In fact, it is one of my best overall trips that I've ever taken. I'm the independent frugal type who likes to plan and do what I want to do. This structured of a trip was a huge leap of faith for me. At the end of the trip, it was clear to me that my local knowledge and detailed organisation made all the difference. I’ve been travelling quite a lot for most of my life in the recent years and I’ve found that the act of travel provides some of the best catalysts for growth in the human experience. Along the way, I encountered difficulties as well as rewards and the journey transformed me for the better. Life challenges such as being able to live well everyday can be the one thing that shakes our world up enough to wake us up to the fact that life is truly a gift. And if we are smart and we listen carefully to the messages, it might just help guide us to our authentic self. This is why I am so passionate about promoting leading a good life through my photography lens and living a more harmonious lifestyle. And why it is so important for me to provide sound information from my own personal experience in travel trips that it will be useful in your search for living a healthier, more natural and balanced life. I hope all of you have been enjoying reading my photography blog so far and of course, i also wish that all of you will continue to stay happy and healthy too. Here goes the Part 8 (my second last blog post) of my recent fruitful trip to Hong Kong - Street Food 香港街头美食天堂.
When people say that Hong Kong is the mecca for food lovers in Asia, they surely were not kidding as every corner and alley is filled with eateries and restaurants serving their respective delicious specialties. Hong Kong has a lot to offer, it is one of the best cities in the world for foodies and culinary travellers, so for anyone travelling to Hong Kong should not be afraid to try unfamiliar foods. If you don’t have time to sit down and eat at a restaurant, you may want to try some Hong Kong street food. These types of food are prepared so that you can eat them while on the go. Many of these foods are put on sticks or in bags to make it more portable. These are some of the most popular kinds of Hong Kong street food. If you’re out on the streets of Hong Kong, give one a try. You never know, you might just find your new favourite snack. Hong Kong is known for its diverse and equally delicious cuisine and seafood.True to being a metropolitan hub in Asia, it is also home to cuisines from around the world and locals relish eating sushi, steak and spaghetti at the hundreds of restaurants in the city. But for tourists, nothing beats being able to eat at the numerous street markets and it helps to know where they are and what you can order. Here goes the Part 7 (my last third blog post) of my recent fruitful trip to Hong Kong - Street Tram Buses 香港电车.
Hong Kong’s trams 香港电车 or also known as "Ding Ding" as locals call their trams which are an integral daily part of the bustling city for the past century and are the only fully double-decker fleet in the world. Currently, the fleet consists more than 160 different trams and provides transportation services on 6 routes. Some of the iconic trams are used to offer an eye-catching advertising and sometimes you have a chance to catch one of the two antique trams. In Year 2000, the Hong Kong Tram Company introduced 3 new and redesigned metal trams - the so-called "millennium trams". These are more comfortable to ride and are equipped with air-conditioned system. Nonetheless, i highly recommend you to take the old fashion trams. During your stay in Hong Kong, there is no better way to experience the city's fascinating local attractions, tantalising and unique heritage than by hopping on a tram. There is no better way to experience the flair of Hong Kong Island with its crowded streets, skyscrapers and big Chinese road signs than that. Believe me, you won't regret it. Taking these trams will make you a real Hong Konger. 来到香港, 最常使用交通工具就是地铁了, 很多景点搭地铁就可以抵达, 所以香港行, 几乎天天都离不开地铁. 不过除了地铁之外, 港岛的 "电车" 算是另一个很有 "港味" 的交通工具. 香港电车不仅是港岛区居民的重要交通工具, 也成为外地旅客观光的著名景点.所以来到香港, 当然要来体验一下! Here goes the Part 6 (my last fourth blog post) of my recent fruitful trip to Hong Kong - Yuen Po Street Bird Garden 园圃街雀鸟花园 located near Prince Edward MTR Station 太子站.
Last Sunday afternoon, after the weather has turned decidedly warmer, provide many options for a lovely walk in Hong Kong. Known otherwise as an urban or concrete jungle, this is only partially true. The island has fantastic hiking trails, marshes, wetlands, gorgeous coastline…That Sunday, with my Canon DSLR camera, I made my way to an old favorite of tourists and locals alike, the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden 园圃街雀鸟花园. Most folks turn up here to either “sun” a.k.a "chai" their birds (i.e. stroll around with their caged birds in hand, comparing notes with the other bird afficianados, or just sitting on one of the stools, hanging out and chatting), take photos of the birds, or just see the spectacle. Not me, not that day. Nothing against “Mother Nature”. I was here that day for a 'bigger prey'. I was looking to shoot (figuratively of course) the people – the tourists, the bird keepers / lovers, anyone who seemed interesting. I was not at all disappointed! I collected the various nice shots in a little over an hour. I must say that in spite of those birds' small sizes, they really deliver both as a novelty and for sheer entertainment. Seeing birds so close is a rare gift and viewers will enjoy observing behaviour. Here goes the Part 5 of my recent trip to Hong Kong - 庙街 Famous Temple Street located near Jordan MTR Station 佐敦站. I took time to visit Temple Street and the market that takes place there each evening. I went early, around 6pm, just as the vendors were setting up their stands. Reaching Temple Street slightly earlier before sun down will also give you a better chance at the inventory as the market tends to get very crowded at night. This blog post on Temple Street is to a pay a tribute to all who had led their whole life at this street in Hong Kong as well as to actors / actresses who had also played their great roles in movies featuring this famous street. 关于庙街, 爱看港片的童鞋绝不会陌生. 电影里经常听见老大跟小弟们说, 当年我从庙街一直打到尖沙咀再到铜锣湾, 才有今天的地位. 可想而知, 庙街是什么样的地方. 很多港片在那里取景, 并以他命名. 如庙街故事, 庙街十二少, 庙街皇后, 庙街妈兄弟, 庙街12少, 庙街豪情, 庙街十三妹, 庙街十三少等等.... 庙街, 应该说是标准的市井香港形象的代表. 对于没有到过香港的人来说, 庙街总有些神秘, 庙街是 "庙街故事" 里郑依健和吴倩莲演绎的江湖与爱情, 是 "食神" 里周星驰展开恩怨情愁的剧场, 是 "庙街十二少" 里刘德华和他十二个干爹干妈的纷繁故事, 是 "新不了情" 里刘青云的一段情缘. 然而庙街到底是什么? 有没有大佬, 古惑仔和那港片中颇具特色的西瓜刀? 街头有没有邂逅与浪漫? 这里与中环林立的高楼, 迪斯尼快乐的天空到底构成了怎样的香港全景? Jordan came into existence in 1979, when the MTR opened a station of the same name. It became a neighbourhood in its own right and is now home to one of Hong Kong's well-known attractions - Temple Street Night Market.
Here goes the Part 4 of my recent trip to Hong Kong - 永利街 Wing Lee Street located near Sheung Wan MTR Station 上环站.
I rather enjoy time travel, so you might realise that while you were browsing the first few blog posts of my recent trip to Hong Kong, you may have felt the past century come alive and instantly transported you back in time. There is something magical about my images taken in this Hong Kong trip as they really seem like special old photographs that they can bring back a slice of life that’s long gone. Yes, these photographs were taken in a manner that is touching, that stirs you when you look back upon those memories. Photographs more than anything captures a moment in time. Frozen in that moment are our family and friends, things that we care about. And that is so important to think about the time itself, because the meaning of that photograph depends so much on that moment it was captured. People and objects age and what they mean to us may change over time. Moreover, a photo can take us instantly back in time, bring back memories and lets us tell the story. Without further, I hope all of you will enjoy this Part 4 blog post of full of heritage-Wing Lee Street at Hong Kong, as much as what you had enjoyed so far after browsing my first few blogs of this Hong Kong trip. Here goes the Part 3 of my recent trip to Hong Kong - Noonday Gun 怡和午炮located near Causeway Bay MTR Station 铜锣湾站.
I have always been fascinated with tales of the old colonial days and the epic stories from famous 19th Century explorers. Hong Kong was of course once part of the old British Empire and itself under colonial rule for some time. Today you can still see traces from this bygone era around and about old Hong Kong, from the street names, to the architecture, even to the financial and business systems still in place to this very day. One of the most famous hangovers from colonial rule is the Jardine Noon Day Gun. I have heard so much about the gun and its history that i decided to search out and locate this legendary gun! Here goes the Part 2 of my recent trip to Hong Kong 香港 - A historic Fishing Village named 鲤鱼门 Lei Yue Mun located near 油塘 Yau Tong MTR Station. The moon passage fishing village trapped between the slowly sprawling jungle on the one side and the rampant urban behemoth that is Hong Kong on the other. The line between shanty town and fishing village is very narrow here but what comes from it can only be described as the finest display of seafood I have ever seen. 搭14号巴士是油佐线 (油塘至佐敦道), 由鲤鱼门小巴商会 (佐墩至油塘分会) 营办, 来往鲤鱼门及佐敦道 (吴松街), 为一条客量甚高的小巴路线. 此线提供鲤鱼门, 蓝田来往土瓜湾及佐敦之服务, 途经观塘道及太子道东. 此线还兼容不少的中短途客, 例如由佐敦前往土瓜湾, 或由土瓜湾前往油塘的乘客.
What A Happy Weekend! I just came back from Hong Kong and it was one of the best Hong Kong trips I’ve ever been on. I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend too.
I got a chance to look through my trip photos on my way back to home and i really can’t wait to share them. It was such an unique trip that I felt very lucky to go for it and it worked out so well. It was the kind of trip that when it was time to go home and i was reluctant to leave. Though this is not my first trip to Hong Kong, somehow this trip was a truly fulfilling and enjoyable trip as i explored many different parts of Hong Kong and snapped these interesting places. I will be blogging on my Hong Kong trip photos in a few parts, so please continue to stay tuned to my photography blog! Here goes my first blog post on my recent trip to Hong Kong - 深水埗 Sham Shui Po. The street photos taken at this district were all in black and white - There is nothing more classic and nostalgic than black and white street photography. Black and White reminds us of our past, which we often romanticize and idealize. Not only that, because we don’t see the world in black and white, which makes these images more interesting to look at. The one thing that I love about black and white is that it allows you to concentrate on the image itself, rather than the color. When we think of the past, for some reason we always imagine the memories and pictures in our mind in black and white. Therefore if you are trying to get a nostalgic type of feel in your images that pays an homage to the past, black and white is definitely a wonderful medium for that. I don’t mean that street photography is meant to be taken in either black and white or color. There are cases in which black and white are more appropriate, and times in which color is more appropriate. In this blog post, the differences between both mediums will be outlined. You'll know what i mean when you browse this blog post on 深水埗 Sham Shui Po. |
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